Textile apparatus



June 25, 1968 T. E. PIT'rs 3,389,867

TEXTILE APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8. 1966 /Nl/ENTO THOMAS E. P/TTS A TTORNE VS United States Patent O "ice 3,389,867 TEXTELE APPARATUS Thomas E. Pitts, Cranston, RJ., assiguor to Leesona Corporation, W arwick, RJ., a corporation of Massachusetts Fixed sept. 8, last, ser. Ne. 578,089 12 Claims. (Cl. 242-355) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A winding machine having apparatus for delaying for a predetermined interval the re-entry of yarn into a sensor following interruption or detection of a fault in the yarn.

This application relates generally to textile winding apparatus and more specifically relates to apparatus for sensing the presence and quality of yarn during the winding operation.

Throughout the following specification and claims, the term yarn is employed in a general Sense to apply to all kinds of strand material, either textile or otherwise, and the designation '*package is intended to mean the product of a winding machine, whatever its form.

It is known to use yarn clearing devices in association with textile winding machinery which continually monitor the yarn as it advances from the supply to the take-up package. The earlier yarn clearing devices mechanically sensed the yarn and, more recently, improved yarn clearers have been introduced which electronically or electrooptically Sense the yarn. When a fault of a predetermined size is detected, the yarn is severed by a cutting mechanisrn actuated by the sensing unit whereby the fault is eliminated during which period the winding operation momentarily ceases. T hereupon, the free end of yarn from the winding package is united to the free end of yarn from the supply package and winding is reconimenced.

Among others, one important advantage of some improved yarn clearers resides in their ability to detect and remove yarn faults according to the cross-sectional area of the faults and also according to their length. It is to -be appreciated that all yarns have some normal Variation in cross-sectional areas. Very often, for example, yarns can have short variations which are even 50% greater than the average cross-sectional area thereof. These may be deemed aceeptable so long as variations of this magnitude remain relatively short in length. However, should such short variations reach a size, for example, 100% greater than the average cross-sectional area of the yarn, they are then deemed unacceptable and are eliminated. In like manner, for example, should a yarn exhibit an oversize Variation of 50% for a considerable length as in a spinners double, this occurrence also is deemed unacceptable and is eliminated.

A difiiculty of some improved yarn clearers, however, resides in their inability to distinguish between short and long variations in yarn size when the yarn is motionless within the sensing zone. This can occur, for example, immediately following a yarn uniting sequence when the yarn is fed laterally into the sensing zone of the clearing device with little or no forward motion. Thus, a short yarn imperfection which remains within the sensing zone for an extended period of time until Winding recommences is often treated by the sensing apparatus as identical to an elongated imperfection of like cross-section in an advancing strand of yarn. This may result in the yarn being sevcred when, in fact, the true nature of the fault is such as to render that section of the yarn as acceptable for winding.

The invention is for use in combination With the improved yarn clearing devices discussed above and serves to enable them to properly distinguish between aceeptable 3,38%,867 Patented June 25, 1968 and unacceptable variations in yarn size. To achieve this result, the invention is of a construction which operates to engage the strand of yarn and hold it away from the sensing zone of the clearing device when it is not advancing towards the take-up package but which is responsive to the subsequent movement of the strand to release it to return to said sensing zone lying in the usual strand path when the yarn is once again advancing at a -predete-rmined rate of speed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel system for detecting faults in a wnding strand of yarn including means for avoiding false indications thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a winding machine including yarn inspection means and delay means engageable with the strand of yarn being wound to hold a portion the-reof away from the inspection means for a predetermined period of time.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel system for detecting faults in a winding strand of yarn comprising sensing means having a fault sensing zone and delay means engageable with the strand and operable to hold a portion thereof away from the sensing zone when the strand is at rest or is advancing at less than a predetermined rate but responsive to forward movement thereof for its release and return to the sensing zone.

Other and further objects will be obvious or will appear hereinafter in the specification and drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a yarn Winding machine modified to employ the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation detailing the invention and taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a detail view in elevation illustrating another embodirnent of the invention.

The invention herein may be applied to a winding machine of the type diselosed in the commonly assigned U.Sl Patent No. 2,764,362 to W. V. Goodhue et al., although it will be readily apparent that it is capable of adaptation to a variety of other forms of winding machinery. Numeral 10 indicates the fiat upper plate of a housing (not shown) of the type normally located on a winding machine between a supply bobbin 12 or other source of yarn and a take-up package 14 supported on a winding mandrel 16. In a conventional manner, |package 14 is supported in surface-to-surface engagement with a grooved traverse roll 18 and is driven thereby.

Yarn Y is drawn from bobbin 12 across guide 210. Passing between tension discs 22, said yarn usually advances through the sensing zone 24 of a yarn inspection device 26 which may be of the type which is operable eleetronically or electro-optically to sense yarn presence or absence as well as objeetionable faults in said yarn. As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, a vertically extending hole 28 is suitably bored into the top of the housing of yarn inspection device 26. A journal bearing 30 is received in hole 28 and serves to rotatably support an axle 34 onto which is fixedly received a re-tarding member 36 such as a cylinder which may be provided with a narrow helical groove 38 extending about its periphery. A yarn guide or rarnp 40 is integral with the top of inspection device 26 and so positioned that yarn moving laterally across the top thereof from right to left (see FG. 2) in a manner to be subsequently described will be directed to engage the lowermost portion of helical groove 38.

From thence, yarn Y passes beneath Wax .disc 42 which is disposed on a rotary shaft 44 having an upper end of non-circular cross-section. Thereupon, the yarn Y advances across a suction slot 46 which functions to clean the yarn before it is wound onto package 14. The yarn 3 v then passes beneath the blade 48v of yarn cutting mechanism 50 from whence it is directed beneath guide 52 and onto package 14, traverse roll 18 being arranged to move said yarn torand fro across the surface thereof.

When an unacceptable Variation is detected in the yarn as it advan'ces through sensingzone 24, inspection device 26 signals cutting mechanism 50 in anconventional and well known manner. Bla-de 48 is therebyy actuated to sever the yarn before the imperfection is wound onto package 14. Instrumentalities forming no part of the present invention operate to arcuately swing from thc rest position a yarn transfer arm 54 along the path indicated in phantom at 56. The transfer arm 54 is formed from a hollow tube open at its free end and is connected to a source of vacuum. i

In a known manner, as the transfer arm 54 swings downwardly,,the yarn pick-up nozzle 58 located at the free end thereof moves across the path of the yarn and draws it therein by means of suction. Upon the continued swinging movement of transfer arm 54, pick-up nozzle 53 engages cam 60 which is operable to pivot a combined knifc-jaw unit (not shown) formed thereon to sever the free end portion of the yarn which carries 'the imperfection. The free end portion of the yarn will normally have been fully drawn into the transfer arm 54 pr-ior to severance and upon severance is completely removed therefromby means of the suction. The new free end of yarn extending from supply bobbin 12 remains clamped in the jaws of pick-up nozzle 58 such that on the return movement o f transfer arm 54, said arm 'ac-ts to pull additional yarn through the tension discs 22 and lay it in the confines of a yarn uniting mechanism 62 as well as beneath yarn guide 52 and under Wax disc 42.

However, instead of the yarn be-ngllaid within sensing zone 24 in the standard manner, transfer arm 54 draws said yarn across the upper surface of inspection device 26 in the course of which it slides laterally up ramp 40 and into engagement with the lowermost portion of helical groove 38. It will be apparent that with the yarn so positioned remotelyl of sensing zone 24, inspection device 26 is inoperative to inspect the yarn Y.

When`1`hefree end of yarn from the: package 14 has been successfully joined to the free end of yarn from the supply bobbin 12, known mechanism is actuated to move package 14 against into engagement with traverse roll 18 to recommence winding. The advancing yarn frictionally engaging member 36 causes same to rotate. Helical groove 38 is so designed that the yarn Will be traversed thereon fromthe lowermost, portion adjacent ramp 49 to the uppermost portion as the yarn advances toward package 12. Upon reaching the uppermost portion of member 36, the tension in the winding yarn draws it thereacross and into, sensing zone 24, being aided by the higher ridge 64 formed on the upper surface of inspection device 26 adjacent to said zone. It will be obvious that theyarn is held away from sensing zone 24 for a period of time which is a function of the size of member 36 and the pitch lof groove 38 formed therein. Accoi'dingly, a specific design of member 36 can be chosen to provide a certain desirable time delay for the insertion of yarn into zone 24.

Retarding member 36 may take various other shapes than that shown in FIG. 2 and may or may not include the helical groove 38,. For example, another embodiment of the invention may take the form illustrated in FIG. 3. Therein, as in the. embodment of PIG; 2, a vertically extending hole 65 is suitably bored into the top of the housing of yarn inspection device 26. However, a further recess 66 having a diameter somewhat smaller than that of hole 65 is formed as a continuation of said hole. As before, ,a journal bearing 30 is received in hole 65 and serves to rotatably support an axle 68 onto which a retarding member 75) is fixedly received. Member 70 may be of generally cylindrical Shape but truncated to provide a sloping surface 72. A` rclatively weak torsion spring 74 v.. f'assassr A.,

is seen attached at anend to axle 68 and at the other end to the sidewll of recess 66. The spring 74 serves to normally hold member in the solid-line position such that when the yarn is drawn across the upper surface of inspection device 26 and slides laterally up ramp 40, it moves into engagement with the cylindrical surface of said member. It may be desirable to slightly roughen the cylindrical surface of member 70 to assure rotation thereon when the yarn is drawn longitudinally thereagainst.

Upon the recommencement of winding, the yarn advancing toward package 14 is drawn against member 76 and rotates it against the bias of spring 74 to the position indicted in phantom. A pin 76 embedded in axle 68 extends radially therefrom and is engagcable with a fixed car 78 extending into recess 66 from the sidewall thereof to prevent rotation of member 7% beyond the position shown in phantom. The tension in the winding yarn draws it along surface 72 which preferably is smooth. Upon reaching the uppermost portion of member 70, the yarn is released therefrom and is drawn into sensing zone 24. Similar to the previous embodiment, the yarn is held away from sensing zone 24 for a period of time which is a function of the size of member 70 and the degree of slope of surface 72. Therefore, a specific design of member 73 can be chosen to provide a certain desirable delay for the insertion of yarn into zone 24.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been set forth herein, it. is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure, but changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimcd is:

1. In a yarn detection system having 'a fault sensing zone operable to receive a strand of yarn and detect faults in said yarn as the strand moves through the zone along a usual strand path, the strand being removable from said zone, the combination therewith of a delay mechanism including means to retain said strand against entry into said zone and subsequently to release said strand for movement into said zone after a predetermined interval.

2. The yarn detection system set forth in claim 1 wherein said delay mechanism is arranged adjacent to the usual strand path and comprises means responsive to the advance of said strand to release said strand for return thereof to said usual strand path after a predeterrnined travel of said strand substantially in the direction of its longitudinal axis 3. The yarn detection system set forth in claim 2 wherein said delay mechanism comprises an axially rotatable, generally cylindrical member having a helical groove extending about its periphery, said member operable to frictionally receive said strand in said groove.

4. The yarn detection system set forth in claim 2 wherein said delay mechanism comprises an axially rotatable, genenally cylindrical member having a substantially flat, truncated surface formed thereon, said member operable to initially receive said strand in frictional engagement with the curved surface thereof, but movable to a position to receive said strand in frictional engagement with said trunoated surface.

5. 'In a winding machine for'winding a strand of yarn maving in a usual strand path from a supply onto a takeup package, the improvement comprising yarn inspection means along said path for releasably retaining the strand, and delay means engageable with said strand when the strand vhas been released from said inspection means to hold a portion thereof away from the usual strand path in spaced relation to said inspection means and subsequently to release said strand for movement into said inspection means after a predetermined interval during travel of said strand substantially in the direction of its longitudinal axis 6. The winding machine set forth in claim 5 wherein said delay mechanism is arranged adjacent to the usual strand path and comprises means responsive to the advance of said strand to release said strand for return thereof to said usual strand path after a predetermined travel of said strand substantially in the direction of its londitudinal axis.

p 7. The yarn detection system set forth in claim 6 wherein said delay mechanism comprises an aXi-ally rotatable, generally cylindrical member having a helical groove extending about its periphery, said member operable to frictionally receive said strand in said groove.

8. The yarn detection system set forth in claim 6 wherein said delay mechanism comprises an axi'ally rotatable, generally cylindrical member having a substantially flat, truncated surface formed thereon, said member operable to initially receive said strand in frictional engagement with the curved surface thereof, but movable to a position to receive said strand in frictional engagement with said truncated surface.

9. A yarn winding machine for winding a strand of yarn moving in a usual strand path from a supply onto a take-up package, comprising means for driving said pack-age, means along said path for receiving the strand and sensing an interruption in said strand, m-eans for uniting the resultant yarn ends from said supply and take-up packages ready for delivery of the united strand to said sensing means, and delay means engageable with said united strand to hold a portion thereof away from the usual strand path in spaced relation to said means and subsequently to release said strand after a predetermined interval during travel of said strand substantially in the direction of its longitudinal axis.

10. The winding machine set forth in claim 9 wherein said delay mechanism is adjacent to the usual strand path and comprises means responsive to the adverse of said strand to so release said st-rand for return thereof to said usual strand path after 'a predetermined travel of said strand substantially in the direction of its longitudinal axis.

11. The yarn detection system set forth in claim 10 wherein said delay mechanism comprises an axially rotatable, generally cylindrical member having a helical groove extending about its pe-riphery, said member operable to frictionally receive said strand in said groove.

12. The yarn detection system set forth in claim 10 wherein said delay mechanism comprises an 'axially rotatable, generally cylindrical member having a substantially flat, truncated surface formed thereon, said member operable to initially receive said strand in frictional eng'agement with the curved surface thereof, but movable to a position to receive said strand in frictional engagement with said truncated surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,177,763 10/ 1939 Abbott et al 242-356 3,281,088 10/1966 Matsui et a] 242-35.6

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examner. 

